Creation of High-Density Néel Skyrmions by Interfacial-Proximity Engineering

TL;DR

Scientists created stable magnetic skyrmions in 2D materials by engineering interfaces, enabling control over their density for future spintronic devices.

Contribution

A tunable Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction via interfacial symmetry breaking in Fe3GeTe2/MoS2 heterostructures enables Néel skyrmion stabilization.

Findings

Néel-type skyrmions are stabilized in Fe3GeTe2/MoS2 heterostructures under zero magnetic field.

Skyrmion density peaks at ~30 nm Fe3GeTe2 thickness and decays beyond ~60 nm.

Micromagnetic simulations confirm the role of interfacial DMI in skyrmion evolution.

Abstract

Two-dimensional ferromagnets are promising for compact spintronic devices. However, their centrosymmetric structure inherently suppresses the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI), hindering the stabilization of chiral spin texture. Here, a tunable DMI induced by interface symmetry breaking in Fe3GeTe2/MoS2 vdW heterostructures is reported. We find that the interfacial DMI stabilizes Néel-type skyrmions in Fe3GeTe2/MoS2 heterostructures under zero magnetic field, with nucleation observed at 64 Oe and annihilation at 800 Oe via Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM). Skyrmion density peaks (~0.57 skyrmions/μm2) at a Fe3GeTe2 thickness of ~30 nm and decays beyond ~60 nm, indicating a finite penetration depth of the proximity effect. Such modulated DMI enables a stabilized nucleation of Néel type skyrmions, allowing for precise control over their density, revealed by Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. Thickness-dependent measurements confirm the interfacial origin of this stabilization. Skyrmion density reaches peak in thin Fe3GeTe2 layers and decays beyond ~60 nm, defining the finite penetration depth of the proximity effect. Micromagnetic simulations reproduce the field-dependent evolution of skyrmions, showing a strong correlation to interfacial DMI. First-principles calculations attribute this DMI to asymmetric charge redistribution and spin–orbit coupling at the heterointerface. This work establishes interface engineering as a universal strategy for stabilizing skyrmions in centrosymmetric vdW ferromagnets, offering a thickness-tunable platform for next-generation two-dimensional spintronic devices.

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